North Korea Relaunches Previously Capsized Naval Destroyer
THey may have relaunced the destroyer, but it is unclear how much damage this ship still has to be repaired:
North Korea says it has repaired and relaunched a naval destroyer that capsized during a failed launch attempt last month, but defense experts remain skeptical about the regime’s claim of a quick recovery. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the relaunch of the 5,000-ton warship Thursday at Rajin Shipyard on the country’s northeastern coast, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Friday.
The event came just three weeks after that vessel capsized and sustained hull damage during a launch attempt at Chongjin Shipyard, about 50 miles south of Rajin. In a rare admission, KCNA acknowledged the failure, quoting Kim at the time as calling it a “criminal act caused by absolute carelessness.” Despite the setback, KCNA on Friday portrayed the relaunch as a testament to North Korea’s maritime strength. The rapid repairs are proof of the communist regime’s “progress and lead of the warship-building industry,” the report said.
You can read more at the link.
No one should be surprised if this supposedly modern warship is just a glorified naval yacht for the supreme leader, to include fake weapon and emitter structures on the decks and masts. In the opening minutes of any conflict, the two ships of this class would be targeted immediately, with zero chance to positively support any nK maritime strategy.
The real test would be if nK is willing to send this ship to a combined Russia-China naval exercise in the Pacific Ocean (not local waters) AND participate in a meaningful and integrated C4ISR and strike-capable manner. Otherwise, its purpose would just be to hoist the nK flag.
Chicken wire, bondo and duck tape followed by rolled on battleship grey enamel, probably didn’t even use marine paint.